Barbara Anne Boner, 85, of Sunbury, Ohio, died Friday, December 13, 2024, finally free from the ravages of dementia. Born in Columbus, Ohio, on April 13, 1939, to Stanton and Florence (Fidler) Tenney, Barbara lived a full life filled with family, love and laughter.

After marrying, Barbara lived in Nevada and Texas before returning to her hometown of Fredericktown, Ohio, in 1985. She worked various jobs over the years, retiring from the Mt. Vernon Developmental Center. In “retirement,” she returned to school and became a licensed massage therapist, running her own business for several years.

Family was important to Barb, from family reunions to her grandchildren’s activities. Some of her most favorite times were sledding down her steep driveway with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, laughter echoing in the trees of the family farm.

Her church and the Emmaus community benefitted greatly from her faithful volunteering. She served as treasurer at Berlin United Methodist Church. After first attending a Walk to Emmaus retreat in Texas, Barb became involved in the early growth of the Greater Columbus Emmaus community, and later was a founding member of Heart of Ohio Emmaus, serving many weekends as lay leader.

Music always held a special place in Barb’s life, until the very end. Though she could no longer remember all the words, she could still harmonize on the chorus, and kept perfect rhythm on the maraca.

She will be missed greatly by those she leaves behind. Her children Christine Murphy, Rebecca (Maxie) Doyle, Kenneth Rutter, David (KayAnn) Rutter; stepdaughter, Perri Podenak, and stepdaughter-in-law, Pam Oakley; 14 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; her brothers Richard (Marylou) Tenney, Ronald (Janet) Tenney, Thomas (Karen) Tenney, Doug Tenney; and her sister, Carol. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Allen Boner, stepson David Christian, daughter-in-law Cheryl Rutter, grandson Austin Doyle, and sister-in-law Cindy Tenney.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the Berlin Church, 17900 Knox Lake Rd., Fredericktown, with Pastor Ruth Douglas officiating. The family will receive visitors at the church beginning at 10 a.m. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The Snyder Funeral Homes are honored to serve family of Barbara Anne Boner.